Revolutionary War Pension and Bounty Land Warrant Application File S. 34,797, Ebenezer Edwards, Navy. Mass. Agency And Residence

SERVICE
Navy.
Edwards, Ebenezer
NUMBER
S.34.797
Mass Agency and residence
CONTENTS
Blank lined area for contents
Blank lined area for contents

(2,339)
Massachusetts Roll
Ebenezer Edwards
Mass. marines Alliance Frigate 18 months the navy of the United States during the Revolutionary War
scribed on the Roll of Massachusetts the rate of eight Dollars per month, to commence on the first of April 1818.
ertificate of Pension issued the 16 of Septem r 1818 and forwarded to Daniel White Esq r Salem Mass s .
  arrears to 4th of Sept. 1818  $ 45. 00    semi-ann. all ce ending 4 Mar. 1819  48. 00    5 mos & 4 days  $ 89. 00  
{ Revolutionary claim, } { Act 18th March, 1818. }
Continued
Newburyport Eff d Co;
Modification sent July 29 th 1820 to Massachusetts Schaback Salem

Ebenezer Edwards.
Newburyport - Mass.
Daniel A. White, Esq; Judge Essex county, Mass. ts =
Ebenezer Edwards, Mariner, Frigate Alliance, Revolutionary Claim. -
= Admitted
The testimony of one sailor or mariner, to prove the service of another in the same vessel, is inad- -missible. The evidence, on oath, of two or more disinterested and credible persons, is required. =

I, Ebenezer Edwards of Newburyport, in the County of Essex, and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Marine, on oath do testify and declare, as follows, viz: that I served as a Marine, in the Naval Service in the war of the revolution, for the term of eighteen months, in the service of the United States, on board the Frigate Alliance, commanded by Peter Landais Esquire: I enlisted in the year 1779, at Nantes in France, in company with Thomas Bayley, we were both at that place, having a short time before been exchanged, in the Milford Cartel from England, where we had been prisoners, to the British, and confined in Mill Prison: the said Frigate, soon after we enlisted, came round from Brest, and took us on board. I was on board said Frigate, in the action which she had with two British frigates, the Serapis and Countess of Scarborough, and while I was on board lost the five fingers off my left hand, and did my duty on board, the full term of eighteen months, as aforesaid; until said Frigate returned from her Cruise, to the United States, and my term of service having expired, I was with said Thomas Bayley, discharged at Boston and returned to my friends.
Ebenezer Edwards

Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. I Daniel A White Judge of the Court of Probate of the said County of Essex, do certify that Eleanor Edwards of Newburyport in said County personally appeared on the first day of April A.D. 1818, and made the declaration aforesaid by him signed under oath before me; that the annexed affi- davits of William Picket & Thomas Bayley were duly taken & sworn to; that the annexed certifi- cate of the Selectmen & overseers of said Newburyport, who are well known to me as such is entitled to full faith; and that it appears to my satis- faction that the said Eleanor Edwards served in the revolutionary war as set forth in his said declaration.
Given under my hand & the Seal of the said Court the twentieth day of April in the year aforesaid
D. A. White.

Ebenezer Edwards.
2339
2339. Newbury 16 Apr 1818
C
Mar 1819

Commonwealth of Massachusetts.
ESSEX, ss.
At the Circuit Court of Common Pleas of the Middle Circuit, begun and holden at Salem, within and for the County of Essex, on the third Monday of June, A. D. 1820.
Present, Hon. SAMUEL DANA, Chief Justice.
Hon. WILLIAM WETMORE, and
Hon. STEPHEN MINOT, Associate Justices.
In open Court here, being a Court of Record for said Circuit, proceeding according to the course of the common law, with a jurisdiction unlimited in point of amount, keeping a record of its proceedings, and having the power of fine and imprisonment, Ebenezer Edwards
resident in Newbury
in said Circuit, who is named in
Pension Certificate No. 2339
now in his possession, of which the
following is a true copy, to wit,
"WAR DEPARTMENT.....REVOLUTIONARY CLAIM."
"I certify that, in conformity with the Law of the United States, of the 18th March, 1818, Ebenezer Edwards late a Mariner in the Navy during the Revolutionary War  in the Army of the Revolution , is inscribed on the Pension List, Roll of the Massachusetts Agency, at the rate of Eight dollars per month, to commence on the first day of April one thousand eight hundred and eighteen
***** * L. S. * *****
"Given at the War Office of the United States, this Sixteenth day of September one thousand eight hundred and Eighteen
J. C. CALHOUN, Secretary of War,"
appears, and exhibits to the Court here a Schedule, subscribed by him, as follows, to wit,
SCHEDULE,
containing his whole estate and income, his necessary clothing and bedding excepted, to wit,
1 Mariner's Chest and sundry small articles $4- 1 bible and several other books worth to me 1.25 $ 5.25
That he is fifty nine years of age, a seaman, but has been frequently of late years, so much confined by sickness, that he has not been able to follow it more than half the time. He further states that he served in the Navy of the United States, in the war of the revolution on the continental establishment, as set forth in his declaration before the Hon Daniel A White on his application for a pension: that while on duty on board the Frigate Alliance, he lost one finger of his hand, and was otherwise injured - and that afterwards suffering severely by sickness, his constitution is broken down, and he is unable to do much manual labour.
Eben. Edwards

Essex ss July 10. 1820 Then the above named Ebenezer Edwards made oath that the above schedule & declaration, by him subscribed, are true, before me, Stephen Merrill, Judge of said Court

and at the same time he produces to the Court here the following Oath, taken and subscribed by him, before the Hon. Stephen Minot a Judge of said Court as aforesaid, to wit,
I, Ebenezer Edwards do solemnly swear, that I was a resident citizen of the United States on the eighteenth day of March one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, since that time, by gift, sale, or in any manner whatever, disposed of my property, or any part thereof, with intent thereby so to diminish it as to bring myself within the provisions of an act of Congress, entitled "an act to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," passed on the eighteenth day of March, one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, and that I have not, nor has any person in trust for me, any property, or securities, contracts, or debts, due to me; nor have I any income, other than what is contained in the schedule hereto annexed and by me subscribed. So help me GOD.
Eben Edwards
Essex, ss. C. C. C. P. June, Term, A. D. 1820.
Then the abovenamed Ebenezer Edwards took and subscribed the aforesaid Oath before me
Stephen Minot Judge of said Court.
I, ICHABOD TUCKER, Clerk of the Court aforesaid, do hereby certify that the foregoing Oath, and Schedule thereto annexed, are truly copied from the record of the said Court; and I do further certify, that it is the opinion of the said Court, that the total amount in value of the property exhibited in the aforesaid Schedule is
five dollars 25 cents
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand, and affixed the seal of the said Court, at Salem, in said County of Essex, on this 17 th day of July , A. D.
1820
Attr.
Ichabod Tucker Clk

Invalid XXXXXXXXXXXX
File No. 34797  Navy
Ebenezer Edwards Mariner Frigate Alliance U.S.N. Rev. War
Act: March 18. 1878
Index:—Vol. _____, Page _____
[Arrangement of 1870.]

Additional Proof
In support of the declaration of Ebenezer Edwards in his application to the Honorable Daniel A. White on the first day of April 1818. for the benefit of the act of Congress of the 18th of March last, providing for certain persons engaged in the land or naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war. —
I Moses R Edwards of Newburyport, in the County of Essex and Commonwealth of Massachusetts, on oath do testify and declare, that I do know that Ebenezer Edwards of said Newburyport who is making application to the Government of the United States for a pension, was a seaman in the Navy of the United States in the war of the Revolution, and that he served as such on board the Frigate Alliance commanded by Peter Landais by him more than one year — he left the United States in the year 1776 or 1777 I cannot now determine which and left Newburyport in the privateer Brig Dalton, and was captured in her and carried prisoner to England and confined in Mill Prison. In the year 1779. I received information that he was exchanged, and left the prison and had entered on board the said Frigate Alliance — I frequently heard from him while he was on board said Frigate, and I well remember when said Frigate returned to the United States said Ebenezer Edwards returned in her — It was then fully understood that he had been a seaman on board said Frigate Eighteen months — I was not in the service myself nor can I state of my own knowledge, any thing of the time of his enlistment, which I always understood was in France — I know that he was a Marine on board in 1779 and that he was not discharged from service until late in the year 1780 and from what I then knew of his service on board said Ship, and what I always understood and believed I have no doubt whatever but that said Ebenezer Edwards, served as a marine on board the said Frigate Alliance, the full term of eighteen months — I have no interest whatever in said Edwards's application for a pension, nor am I an applicant myself. —
Moses R Edwards
Essex ss. July 29th 1818.
I John Cook of Newburyport aforesaid on oath do testify and declare that I am well acquainted with the above named Ebenezer Edwards and have been acquainted with him from his infancy. I well remember on my return from a cruise in the private armed Schooner Independence belonging to the same owner as the private armed Brig Dalton which is referred to in the deposition of Moses R. Edwards above written. that said Ebenezer Edwards had left the United States in said privateer which was in the year 1776. I do know that said Ebenezer Edwards was taken prisoner by the British, on his first cruise and that he was confined nearly two years in Mill Prison — he was afterwards exchanged with Thomas Bayley and several others and in the year 1779 entered as a Marine on board the United States Frigate

Alliance commanded by Peter Landais Esq. I am confident that he entered on board of her as soon as he was discharged from Prison (and) that he continued Cruising in her until her return to the United States - I did not see him until then I am confident he served in said Frigate on the Continental Establishment - more than one year - I know that it was well understood that he was a Seaman on board of her in the year 1779 (and) I well remember his returning to the United States in her, and am knowing to his having afterwards received his share of Prize money arising from the sale of vessels Captured by her - while he was on one Cruise in said Frigate in the year 1779. I well recollect conversing with different Seamen who returned in her since - and enquiring of them respecting him (and) on enquiring particularly for him was told that he had lost his fore finger in the Service, which I found was the fact which I took notice of when I saw him which was immediately after his return - Said Edwards has been principally in my family for the last two years - he is feeble and so infirm that he can earn but little in his profession, which is that of a mariner (and) cannot obtain full wages - I consider that his constitution was greatly injured by the hardships of a long confinement in prison, in the year 1777 (or) 1778 - I know that he is now very ill.
I am in no respect whatever interested in said Edwards's application for a pension, nor am I an applicant myself.
John Cook
Edgewater July 29th 1818
I Nathaniel Wiger of said Newburyport on oath do testify and declare that in the year 1776 I was Stewards mate on board the private Armed Brig called the Dalton belonging to the said port of Newburyport and sailed in her on her first Cruise in that year - Ebenezer Edwards above named (and) Thomas Bayley both belonging to said Newburyport enlisted (and) sailed in said Brig on said Cruise - they were both in her when she was captured by the British - which was on Christmas Evening in said year - we were all carried prisoners to England (and) said Edwards - said Bayley and myself with many others confined in Mile prison - where we suffered great hardships except when we received relief by donation from friends - I made my Escape in 1779 with many others and left said Bayley and Edwards both there. Soon after my Escape I am informed that both Edwards and Bayley had been exchanged, and had entered on board the American Frigate Alliance - I well remember that when I made my Escape from said Mile prison I left a small box of books - among which was a Bible which I valued in the care of my messmate Joseph Brewster - he was exchanged at the same time with said Edwards and Bayley - and entered with them on board the Alliance Frigate, said Brewster was killed on board of her afterwards - as I have always understood and believed - and when the Frigate returned to the United States, the said Bayley called on me and told me that of his having received the charge of the books from my old messmate or that Edwards or Bayley. I cannot now remember which - had been requested to take the care of them for me - (and) mentioned that in putting them on board a vessel which said Frigate had Captured and was about sending to the United States - the books were lost - I am unable to say how long either said Edwards or Bayley were on board said Frigate - because I was not on board myself - but I have no doubt of the fact and from all I am now able to recollect - after so long a lapse of time. I am confident they

must have been in the service of the United States as I have said Frigate men than one year - I am well acquainted with them both, and I do know that they are both honor and needing the assistance of the Country for support - I have no interest whatsoever to serve in this affidavit - nor am I an applicant for pension myself
Nath l Weyer
Eddesfe. Newburyport July 29 th 1818.
I Nathaniel Staples of Ellsworth in the County of York and State aforesaid on oath do testify and declare, that in the year 1776 I sailed from Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire as an ordinary seaman on board the private armed Brig Dalton commanded by Captain Blake Johnson, and in December of the same year, we were captured by the English, a ship of 64 guns - At that time the above named Ebenezer Edwards and Thomas Bayley, both belonging to Newburyport aforesaid, were among the crew of said Brig and were carried with the rest to Milford prison in England - I was in Milford prison nearly three years, but said Ebenezer Edwards and said Thomas Bayley were exchanged before me, and I think left England in the Milford cartel, and went to France in the year 1779 and both entered on board the United States Frigate Alliance commanded by Peter Landais Esq - In 1780 I was exchanged and left England and went over to France and entered on board the same Frigate, then at L'Orient, and at one time commanded by Paul Jones, this was soon after the famous Battle between said Frigate and the British Frigate Serapis and Bonetta of Scarborough - When I entered the said service I found the said Thomas Bayley and said Ebenezer Edwards both on duty on board the said Ship - (and I do know that they continued on board until after her return to the United States which was the 16 th of August 1780 - I was discharged at Boston with a few others who found a coasting bound out way, and left said Edwards and said Bayley on board said Frigate at Boston, so that I am unable to say when either of them were discharged - But I am well satisfied that both said Thomas Bayley and the said Ebenezer Edwards served on board said Frigate, in the war of the revolution and on the Continental establishment, more than one year in continuance - (and do not doubt that they were in that service a longer time I am in no respect interested in said Edwards application for a pension nor am I an applicant myself
Nath l Staples
York Jo. Ells o August 27 th 1818. Then Nathaniel Staples above named personally came and made oath to the above certain affidavit by him subscribed, reduced to writing in my presence, and I do certify that said Nathaniel Staples is a man of respectability and entitled to full credit.
Andrew P. Morrall Jus. of the Peace

Eleazar Edwards I Nathaniel Kennard of Portsmouth in the State of New Hampshire testify & say, that I was a prisoner in England with said Bayly & Edwards, being one of the crew of the private armed Brig Dalton, went in the same Cartel to France with them in 1779, entered on board the Bon Homme Richard, sailed in company with the Alliance, & remember when in Port seeing them both on board said Frigate, and having carefully read over the proceedings Deposition of said Staples, have no doubt of the truth of the Facts, stated by him. — Nathl. Kennard
State of New Hampshire } On this 27 th day of Portsmouth — } August A. D. 1818
Before me the Subscriber Notary Public, of a Justice of the Peace & Inquisition, personally appeared the above named Nathaniel Kennard, a citizen here to me well known, of worthy & good faith of credit, and made solemn affirmation in due form of law that the foregoing declaration by him subscribed in my presence, is just & true —
In testimony whereof I have hereunto set my hand & affixed my Notarial Seal the same day. —————
Dea. Stephen Mays Not y Public & Just e Peace & Inq y
Commonwealth of Massachusetts
Essex ss. Town of Newburyport
Be it known by these presents that on the twenty ninth day of July in the year of our Lord one thousand eight hundred and eighteen, before me William Hoar, Notary Public for the County of Essex, by legal authority admitted and sworn, and a Justice of the Peace, and Inquisition in and for said County residing therein, personally came Moses R. Edwards, John Cook and Nathaniel Vye, and severally made oath to the truth of the within and foregoing affidavits by them respectively subscribed. — I do hereby certify that the said Moses R. Edwards, John Cook and Nathaniel Vye are all personally known to me the said Notary, are all respectable Witnesses, and believed by me to be disinterested and I do

further Certify, that Andrew P. Fernald whose name is subscribed to the Certificate annexed to the deposition of Nathaniel Staples is a Justice of the Peace in and for the County of York in said Massachusetts, and the signature of said Fernald affixed in my presence.
In testimony whereof I have also hereunto set my hand and affixed my Seal of Office this twenty seventh day of August in the year of our Lord 1818.
W. W. Dorr, Not. Pub.
Daniel A. White the Judge aforesaid do further Certify, that Moses D. Edwards, John Cook, Nathaniel Wiger, Nathaniel Staples and Nathaniel Fernald, the deponents aforesaid are credible and disinterested witnesses, and that the said Edwards by reason of his reduced circumstances in life is in need of the assistance of his Country for support.
Given under my hand and Seal Official this 31 st day of Aug t AD 1818.
D. A. White.

Certificate for Ebenezer Edwards

We the subscribers, Do hereby Certify, that Ebenezer Edwards who is now making application to the Secretary of war for a pension allowed by an act of Congress of the United States "to provide for certain persons engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war," is known to us, as a Citizen of the said United States, residing in said Newburyport and in need of assistance from his Country for support. Given under our hands at Newburyport this thirty first day of March in the year of our LORD 1818.
Step n Howard Arthur Gilman John Scott Prescott Spalding
Selectmen of Newburyport
Aaron Pardo Nath l Marsh Nicholas Johnson Jr
Overseers of the Poor

Thomas Bayley's deposition for Ellen Edwards.—

I, Thomas Bayley, of Newburyport in the County of Essex Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Marine, do testify and say, that in the year 1779 Ebenezer Edwards, who is now making application to the Government of the United States for the benefit of an act of Congress, providing for persons, engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war, is known to me personally. I was at Nantes in the Kingdom of France, with said Edwards and I know, that he enlisted to serve on board the United States Frigate Alliance, and, that when said Frigate came over from Brest, he entered on board with me, as Nantes and faithfully served on board said Frigate, for the term of eighteen months, and until the crew were discharged on return of said Frigate to the United States, said Edwards, while on duty on board said Frigate, lost the forefinger off his left hand - he was on board said Frigate, in the action of the Serapis and Scarborough Frigates and as a seaman did duty on board the whole of said term.
Thomas Bayley
Essex ss. Newburyport March 28th 1818. Then Thomas Bayley above named personally came and made oath to the truth of the above written Affidavit by him subscribed before me W. W. North Justice of the Peace

M rs Pickett depositon for. Ethan Edwards

I, William Picket, of Newburyport in the County of Essex & Commonwealth of Massachusetts, Marine, do depose, testify and say as follows viz - That in the year of our Lord 1777. I was taken a prisoner in the Brig Fanny. John Lee Esq. Commander having been driven ashore by the British. I was lodged a prisoner in Mile Prison in England and at that time Thomas Bayley and Ebenezer Edwards, both of whom are now making application to the Government of the United States, for the benefit of the act of Congress, making provision for certain persons, engaged in the land and naval service of the United States in the revolutionary war, were at that time in the same prison as American prisoners, they were both exchanged in the Milford Cartel in 1779. and went over to France.
I understand (and do believe), that said Thomas Bayley and said Ebenezer Edwards, were afterwards, enlisted into the service on board the Alliance Frigate, commanded by Peter Landais Esq. I saw them both on board that Frigate afterwards in 1780. (and I have no doubt but that, as well said Thomas Bayley and the said Ebenezer Edwards did their duty on board said ship) and are entitled to the provisions of said act of Congress - When I saw them on board the Alliance Frigate I knew, that they belonged to the crew and were doing duty on board as such.
Wm Picket
Essex ss. Newburyport March 20th 1818 Then William Picket above named personally came and made oaths to the truth of the above written affidavit by him subscribed - before me W. Washburn Justice of the Peace

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Edwards, Edmond GRADE Private LINE Virginia
WARRANT NUMBER N 12105 and 14077 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED May 27, 1794 to — not shown —
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.

BOUNTY LAND WARRANT RECORD CARD*
NAME Edwards, Edward GRADE Private LINE Massachusetts
WARRANT NUMBER 4095 ACREAGE 100 ISSUED Mar. 30, 1796 To Peter Avier
*The information concerning the issuance of warrants carded on this form is found in volumes 2 to 4 of "Land Warrants Issued Prior to 1800" which are registers of bounty land warrants issued to non-commissioned officers and privates under congressional resolutions of September 16, 1776, and subsequent dates. Other records relative to the applications for warrants appear to have been destroyed in the War Department fire of November 9, 1800. Information concerning warrants surrendered to the Federal Government is to be found in General Land Office records in The National Archives.